The simple latex balloon filled with helium used to have a short life.  Typically we would not guarantee them to stay afloat longer than 12 to 18 hours.  Today, thanks to a product known as HIFLOAT, that life can be extended greatly.   HIFLOAT is a gel like substance that Cappel’s adds to all of our latex helium balloons.  It can extend the longevity of these balloons anywhere from 3 to 7 days or more.  In addition, it enables customers to have their helium balloons the day before a big event, and avoid the last minute rush.  There are enough last minute details to any large party, so this is a welcome improvement.  Our customers love the fact that their balloon bouquets can be enjoyed for more than just a night.

Balloon columns are a great way to bring color to larger spaces, or entrances

Balloons!  Just the thought of them brings mental pictures of celebrations, and fun times.  They are a part of our celebration landscape, and are often used in times of sorrow.  We seem to float with them as they are released, and our secret thoughts, often inserted in the balloon, float with them too.  Their color can add to the emotions we feel, or the theme we are trying to build. Three cheers for the simple latex balloon!

There was a day when moustaches were so 
seventy-ish. But lately, have you noticed the resurgence of interest in moustaches? They seem to show up in the least expected places. Namely, not on a male’s face. Of course, we’ve always sold tons of moustaches, but now there are moustache earrings, moustache suspenders, rings and bowties, to name a few. What is the reason for this sudden fixation with upper lip décor? After doing a little investigation I believe I have found the answer.

Thanks to the Movember movement moustaches have become mainstream, if only for a month each year. Never heard of Movember? Movember is celebrated every November, and is a challenge to all males, and their wives, sisters, and friends to raise funds in support men’s health issues, especially prostate and testicular cancer. Men begin the month clean shaven. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Seems a little hairy to me.

Photo courtesy of Movember United States, http://us.movember.com/about/

Who knew? Betsy Ross & Ben Franklin rubber ducks!

What has happened to the simple rubber duck?  The humble friend of Sesame Street’s Ernie has reinvented itself.  Once confined to the bathtub or festival duck pond, the rubber duck has gone through an identity crisis of sorts.  This little rubber creature has invented literally hundreds of iterations of himself.  Sounds like a personality defect to me!

But hey, it has really caught on.  People really love the little guy.  There are rubber duckies of almost every stripe; nerd ducks, ninja ducks, historical ducks, sumo wrestler ducks, super hero ducks.  You get the picture.  The little fellow even makes a guest appearance in rubber duck races across the US.  My hometown, Cincinnati, sponsors the Rubber Duck Regatta every Labor Day weekend.  Last year’s race featured over 100,000 of the little floating creatures.  The event will be 20 years old this year, and has raised over $4.6 million dollars for the Freestore Foodbank here in Cincinnati.

I guess the phenomenon is here to stay.
He’s a harmless creature, so what’s not to like?

You could say it’s a sort of a backwards Prom or a boycott of the regular Prom.    It’s usually smaller than the regular Prom, costs a bunch less money to get your outfit and to attend, and you don’t have to be one of the “cool kids” or the “in crowd” to go to MORP.  As a matter of fact, it can be a great activity for students who may not otherwise have a lot of social interaction with their peer group.    It’s time to shine in your own unique MORP way.

Most MORPs have an 80’s theme to them including 1980′s Rock & Disco Costumes, the idea being that folks dressed a bit crazier in the 80′s.  Everything is mismatched, brightly colored, the more sparkles the better, and of course, the defining piece of your outfit (for a girl at least) is a Tutu or two.  Try wearing Glitter or Sequin Hats and Wacky, Wild, or Colorful Wigs!

Neon rules!!!!!!  Plenty of bright colors will help create a good MORP outfit.   Make sure your socks don’t match, your jewelry is funky and your Hair style is overdone.  Sunglasses are not essential, but can be the finishing touch to any MORP outfit.

Image courtesy of Kauffy.hubpages.com/hub/Gender-Reveal-Party

These days if you’re having a baby, friends and family can help you celebrate in more ways than ever before.  Gone are the days when only ladies came to a “Baby Shower”.  Now you can invite everyone to a “Reveal Party”.  In case you haven’t heard, that’s a party where the gender of the soon to be born baby is revealed to the expectant parents, grandparents, relatives and friends.

Being in the party business, we have seen many creative ways to go about the “Reveal”.  Often the expectant parents want to know the good news first, so they can have a private moment to celebrate.  But if they are willing to wait for a general announcement, they can have the doctor or ultrasound technician write down the gender of the baby and seal it in an envelope.  Take the envelope to a party store and ask them to fill a large box with the appropriate color helium balloons and seal the box.  You can wrap the box in pretty paper and put a pink and blue bow on it if you like.  When you open the box at your Reveal Party, all will know the gender of your baby at the same time.  (Note:  helium balloons only last for a limited amount of time.  Be sure to get them right before the party to insure maximum “lift off” from the box.)

More ideas that I’ve heard are fun:  Fortune Cookies with the gender written on the “fortune”, a cake or cupcakes with the inside tinted in pastel pink or blue.  How about picking out baby clothes in pink and another outfit in blue, give the sealed envelope to a retail clerk and have them box the proper color outfit and put the other one back.

Image courtesy of http://hayeshouseblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/gender-reveal-party.html

Which ever way you choose, having a reveal party is bound to be an event you won’t long forget!  Enjoy!

Chinese Dragons are central to every Chinese New Year parade

I’ve never celebrated Chinese New Year, but I have wondered about its traditions, symbols and their meanings, so here is a little bit about what I discovered.  This year it begins on Sunday, 2/10/13 and will be the Year of the Snake.  The holiday is celebrated every year, but the date varies according to the lunar cycle.

Always falling in January or February, Chinese New Year is celebrated from 3 to 15 days.  The eve and first day of the New Year are celebrated in the highest style.  Fireworks are an essential part of the celebration on Chinese New Year’s Eve to create an enormous and beautiful display.  Then on New Year’s Day, there is a fantastic parade.

It is tradition that most factories close during the Chinese New Year celebration so that workers can travel back to their hometown to celebrate with family.  Visiting family, and giving gifts of small red and gold envelopes containing money is part of the tradition.  The red and gold symbolize prosperity, and good luck.  Live blooming plants in the home are symbols of rebirth and new growth, while flowers are symbolic of wealth.  Written
couplets containing happy wishes are put on walls and doors.

Now that you know a bit about the traditions and symbols of Chinese New Year, perhaps you would like to have a Chinese New Year party to welcome in the Year of the Snake.  Wouldn’t it be fun to think of happy wishes, write them on pretty pieces of paper and
hang them around the house?  Putting up Chinese lanterns would be perfect for such an event.  Remember, red and gold as significant colors to use for their symbolism.  Of course, Chinese cuisine, complete with chopsticks is essential for this party.

Enjoying the good times at Main Strasse

Right now we are seeing lots of interest in Mardi Gras masks and party accessories.  One question we receive regularly is “When is Mardi Gras?”.  Since the date changes every year, this can be a confusing issue.  This year, 2013, Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is Tuesday, February 12, which is the day before Lent begins.

The celebration of Mardi Gras in our area is typically a 12 day event, beginning two weekends before the actual date.  This gives everyone two weekends to party, and it mimics the celebration times in New Orleans.  There are many organizations sponsoring parties for Mardi Gras.  One of the most successful is in Main Strasse in Covington Kentucky.  Lots of fun indoors and out!

I think Mardi Gras is a welcome diversion from the endless days of gray, cold and overcast weather we so often experience in Cincinnati!  For additional Mardi Gras ideas and decorations, check out our Mardi Gras Costumes & Party Supplies at Cappel’s.

Santacon New York City 2011

It happens only once a year each December, but is remembered fondly throughout the year.  You say Christmas?   We say SantaCon!  Santacon has a long and colorful history, and is celebrated around the world.  Santacon is essentially a gathering of like minded individuals who wish to both get into the Christmas spirit, as well as spread Christmas cheer to their fellow man.  In 2012 Santacon events will be celebrated in just about every major U.S. city, and in excess of 20 foreign countries!  In New York City huge throngs of Santa-wanna-be’s will gather to spread good cheer and raise money for Toys For Tots.

Pub Crawl Santa Suit

If you are looking to join the fun, there are just a few rules.  First, find out the date when Sanatcon will be celebrated in your city.  Then, dress up!  Creative interpretations of Santa gear are welcome and encouraged.  Remember to address everyone as Santa, and most importantly, remember Santa doesn’t make children cry!

Don’t forget to add some visual effects to your group.  An old fashion top hat, or Santa hat will instantly identify the group’s purpose.  The recipients of your jolly efforts could be elderly shut-ins, nursing home residents, or even neighborhood families with young children.  Imagine the delight in their eyes to have a group of happy carolers entertain them for a song or two.   Merry Christmas!

Day of the Dead Make-Up

Halloween or anytime is a perfect time to become someone else for a night.  Why not do it up right with a costume, some makeup and maybe a wig to top it off.

Become a Werewolf, Vampire, Zombie or even a Beauty Queen.  Choose from a good selection of water based makeup to more professional grease paint.  We have Professional Clowns who come to us for their supplies all the time.  It’s so much fun to see them all done up in their brightly colored costumes, and hats.  I love it when they wear the
oversized shoes.  That just completes the whole picture .

We see some of the scary folks as well.  Some of the haunted house dwellers come in to
show us photos  of what they look like in makeup and costume.  Most of them like the Ben Nye and Mehron brand products, both sought after by discriminating customers.

You don’t have to be a professional to look great .  We have Disguise Sticks Makeup that is like using watercolor paints only much more highly pigmented.  Dip a brush or sponge in water swirl it on the Disguise stick and start painting your face, hair, body etc.  This is fantastic for your kids.  It’s non-toxic, dries so it won’t get all over clothes or furniture, and the kids can even use it themselves.  I can’t even count how many of our neighborhood festivals use these for face painting every year.

Go for that Best Costume Prize by adding the finishing touches like moustaches or how about  witch’s warts!  Put on some scars, blood and tattoos with some Zombie makeup and black Zombie Blood.  OOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhh  sounds yucky…and perfect.

Come in and check us out for Halloween or year round.  Cappel’s isn’t like those other stores that are here today and gone tomorrow.  We’re here for your makeup needs all the time.